Volkswagen Beetle Review

Greetings Everyone, I’m Siddharth Lal here with the most awaited review of the Volkswagen Beetle 2016 (also know as VW Bug in USA). The Volkswagen first introduced Beetle type1 in the German and the USA’s market in the year 1938 and discontinued it’s production in the year 2013. The type1 model is a rear-engine, 2-two door and four passenger car. Volkswagen later introduced a new model of Beetle in the year 1997 drawing heavy inspiration from the exterior design of the original Beetle. This new model had it’s engine in the front, front wheel drivetrain and storage space in the rear. It was in the year 2011 that the Beetle was offered in the Indian car market until 2013. In the year 1999 the Volkswagen Beetle came fourth in the Car of the Century competition and became the most influential compact car and was really desirable especially among the female buyers, moreover by being in production for over 70 years the Beetle is the most classic and historic car at present. 

In order to attract more male buyers, the new 2016 Beetle has grown more masculine especially with the lower, flat roofline and more upright windshield. 

Exteriors: 

The all new Volkswagen Beetle 2016 compliments a strong road presence and is crafted with excellence to reflect a iconic design which nods to its heritage while exuding modern style.

Be it the oval bi-xenon projector headlights with prominent DRL’s (Daytime Running Lights) or the R-line front bumper with elongated sleek chrome bar on the bumper grill, they give the Beetle a retro and a classic appeal. The curved hood all the way to the front bumper spotlights the car’s unique spirit. 

The chrome plated ORVM’s, inflated wheel arches, the chrome bar on side claddings, rear boot spoiler, panoramic sunroof and a glossy black roof finish accentuates a distinctive premium stance.

In my opinion the 16” alloy wheels offered in the Beetle looks simple and doesn't go well with the nature of the car and should have been more appealing. 

The Volkswagen Beetle has never been for convention, originality has been more of it’s style. 

Although being a hatchback the Beetle has dimensions of a sedan, it is 4278mm long, 1808mm wide and has a 2524mm wheelbase. 

Interiors, Comfort and Convenience:

As the Beetle is stylish and classy on the outside, its equally as stylish on the inside. Once you're inside the Beetle you’ll instantly fall in love with the retro-modern looking interiors thats filled with style. 

The car gets a dual tone dashboard which looks elegant and sporty with black as standard colour and the other colour being same as the exterior body colour which even extends to the front doors. 

The interior detailing has been done neatly and the fit and finish is top notch and matches with it’s the premium price tag. The cluster of gauges have traces from the original Beetle and have been given a more modern look, like the classic speedo dials which looks retro yet modern and the glovebox lid on the dashboard. It has a flat bottom leather wrapped sporty multifunction steering wheel with exterior body colour accents which looks sporty and premium. 

The cabin also gets interior mood lightning with 3 colour lighting  options to choose from (Red, Blue and White). 

The dashboard gets a double DIN integrated in-dash TFT touch screen music system with USB/iPod, AUX, bluetooth connectivity and GPS navigation. 

The Volkswagen Beetle is a four seater car and the cabin is roomy especially in the front but the rear lack space as the legroom at the rear is not quite sufficient, it is best suitable for kids or short height passengers. The Beetle gets leather sports seats which offer excellent comfort with excellent back/head/thigh support. According to me the biggest let down in the convenient features of the Beetle is the manual adjustment of driver seat (Height, Recline and Lumber support). 

The Volkswagen Beetle has 310 litres of boot space and can be further extended with 50:50 split seat option. The Beetle gets a standard 125/90 R16 spare wheel. 

Engine and Gearbox: 

The Beetle has a 1395cc TSI turbocharged petrol engine with 7-speed DSG gearbox with paddle-shifters. This mill generates a superb 148bhp power at 5000RPM and a massive 250Nm Torque at 1500-3500RPM band. The engine is refined, tried and tested and has less NVH levels. 

Performance and Handling: 

The previous generation Beetle was a boring car to drive but this new one is here with improved driving dynamics. This small 1.4 litre engine is rev eager, is very responsive to throttle and agile. This 4 cylinder engine is smooth and be it a speed of 150 km/hr, this engine never looses breath and craves for more, the Beetle clocks 0-100 Km/hr in just under 10 secs with a top speed of 210 km/hr. The drive has a sporty pleasure with the DSG gearshift with D, S and manual shift mode with paddle shifters. The wind/engine/road noise is quite less at 3 digits speeds. Even after being punchy and quick, the Beetle delivers a milage of around 14 km/l and thats superb in my opinion. 

The Beetle gets it’s suspension from the VW Jetta/Golf and the car is very firm, controlled and sticks well to the road around corners, the steering is light both at high and low speeds but is actually precise and you can play with this Beetle around corners with confidence. Moreover the Beetle absorbs potholes well providing minor jerks. 

Braking and Safety:

The Volkswagen Beetle is more than a tough outer shell, 

It has a protective safety cage construction that provides rigidity with strategically placed crumple zones and the intelligent safety features like adaptive airbags (front dual and dual front curtain airbags ) which have been engineered to adapt crash severity, Intelligent Crash Response System (which in an event of collision activates airbags plus it automatically disables the fuel pump, unlock all doors and turn on hazard lights), Automatic post collision braking system (which automatically slowing down your car after a collision, you have a better opportunity to take control and help reduce the chance of any additional impacts), ABS with EBD, ESP, Traction Control add up to a safer drive. 

Verdict: 

The Volkswagen Beetle is more than just a premium compact car, it’s iconic and a style statement. The Beetle is practical enough for daily work commute as well as for weekend outstation drives, with a classic and a retro-modern design the Beetle has a class apart strong road presence and is surely for classy cool-headed style conscious people as this machine will turns heads will make you stand apart. It may not be as much fun to drive car as it’s major rivals (Mini Cooper & Fiat 500) but is more practical and economical of the three and at a price of 29 lakhs INR, the Volkswagen Beetle is the best buy.